The Portland daily press., 1887-02-05
Another Amendment to the Portland
and Rochester Bill.
Fight Over Pride's and Stroudwate'
Bridges to Co to House and
Senate.
important Amendment Proposed to
the Insolvency Law.
The Peoples Ferry Bill HopeIessIy
Hung Up Between the Houses.
Especial to the PREss.l


Especial to the PREss.l
AUGUSTA. Feb 4.
This has been woman suffrage day. There
has not been such a crowd in the Senate
chamber this session as during the hour OF
two this afternoon when the judiciary COM
mittee heard all those who wanted a eonsti-
tutional amendment granting the right OF
suffrage to women submitted to the people.
An unusually large number of ladies were
| present, some from Augusta, and others
from distant parts of the State Every seat
| and every inch of standing room was taken,
when Rev. Henry Blanchard, Portland,
| opened the argument for the petitioners. He
came there, he said, In the first place to repre-
sent many men; for there were great many
| men who favored woman suffrage, far more
| than most supposed Dr. Blanched cited
instances OF men, prominent men in this
| state TOO, who, he was surprised to fnd
wnen the Woman Suffrage League was form
| ed, had favored the movement for years. In
the second place, Mr. Blanchard came there
| TO represent many women, for there were
hosts of women who wanted the opportuni-
| ty to use the ballot in just causes, although
| they might not be clamorous or assertiye in
| asking for it, But no matter how many
men or how many women favored the move
ment it was a question Of right. Mr.
| Blanchard said he came there te demand a
right Ii the committee on the Legislature
| thought that there might be doubt as to
| the number of men who favor the move
ment, there was very easy way to deter
mine. Submit the question to them, as the
| petitioners now asked. In closing Dr.
Blanchard spoke of prominent gentlemen,
who favored the issue, mentioning especially
DR.. +. Ii. Gerrish of Portland who could
not be present, and Ex-Governor Robie, who
had said: 81 cannot conceive how this
Legislature can refuse to grant the request
for q submission of the question to the peo-
pie"
DR.. Blanchard then introduced Mrs. Mary
A. Llverm0re. Mrs. Liverm0re spoke about
half an hour, and it is safe to say that it was
one OF the best, probably the best, presenta-
tlon Of subject that has been made to any
committee during this LEGISLATURE. she pre-
sented the best arguments afor woman suf-
frage in the best form, and enlivend the pre-
sentation with the same wit and humOr that
the evening before had kept amused and in
terested the largest audience that has been
years. On question where there are few
new facts to be presented, it Is
difficult for a speaker to make much
change in the opinions of such body of
men as the judiciary committee of an intelli-
gent Legislature. But If Mrs. LivermOre
failed to make any converts among the COM
mlttee this afternoon, she certainly put them
all in excellent humOr towards her cause.
The only possible exception to this was the
veteran Democrat, John G. Talbot, who was
observed to look sober when Mrs. Livermore
told how the women of Idaho on gaining
the suffrage, found the Democrats in power,
but straightway turned them out and have
kept the Republicans in ever since.
Mrs. Bashford, of Portland, followed Mrs.
Livermore. Other states looked to Maine
for the most advanced public sentiment
and Mrs. Bashford hoped that in
this matter Maine could still keep the
lead. She was confident that women could
appreciate the ballot If it were given them.
There were many other ladies present who
had intended to speak but could not as the
Bar Harbor people were waiting for the com
mittee. There were Mrs. j. l.. O'Brien, of
Cornish, Mrs. @. A. Quimby, of Augusta,
Mrs. Samuel Bunker, of AnsOn. Mrs L. w.
Weston, of Skowhegan, and Mrs. Osgood, of
Portland.
There is not the least doubt that the ques-
tion will have. fair play in the Legislature.
A part of the judiciary committee, and a very
prominent part too, will join in reporting
fayorably They are Senator Heath, Rep
resentatiyes Walton, Barker and Dow, and
perhaps Wiswell. Perhaps of the rest of the
committee there may be one or two who will
join them. In the House there are lots of
men who will support q favorable report,
and some Of them are takers, too. Walton,
Of Skowhegan, will be pretty likely to have
something interesting to say when the dis
cussion comes, and Looney, of Portland, is
heartily with them. The amendment may
not be submitted, but there will be an inter-
esting field day on it.
The Murdereus Crossing.
A bill was presented in the House this
morning, to provide for an amendment of
see 70 of chap. 81 of the Revised Statues
to allow railroads to increase their legal rate
of speed across highways from six miles to
twenty miles per hour. As amended the sec
tion would read as follows
No engine OF train shall be run across a high
way, near the compact part OF town, at speed
greater than six miles an hour, or across any
miles an hour, unless the parties operating the
railroad maintain iagman or gate at the cross
onably and negligently obstructed by engines,
tenders or cars. The corporation forfeiting 500
for every such offence.
This is added to this section:
Every railroad company and the parties operat-
way which is not protected by gates or a nagman,
make and maintain a safe and convenient road on
each side Of said crossing, of a sufficient width
for team to turn round in Safety There is also
added provisions for securing this extra land IL it
is not in the highway. and OF compelling the rail
road company TO pay for the same.
A Happy Democrat.
Major Dickey enjoyed himself at Mr..
Blaine's reception last evening better than
he has enjoyed himself for long time be-
| fore. In his speech against changing the
time of elections, yesterday, the Major refer
red TO the time when he as q member and
Mr.. Blaine as reporter dipped ink out of
| the same bottle. Last evening. when the
time for refreshments came, Mr.. Blaine
walking across the floor and taking Major
Diekey by the arm, said; Il am going to
walk out to supper with the Oldest and most
distinguished legislator in Maine, and the
rest Of you gentleman may follow" who
| would have thought it," said the Major in
telling of it, ''and | a Democrat from the
time of Andrew Jackson"
For Glorious September.
The question of submitting to the people
constitutional amendment to change the
time of elections from September to Novem-
Der, came up in the Senate this morning
There were no formal speeches. except a few
remarks from Senators Allen, Lumbert and
Gushee. The vote was 20 to against the
proposition to submit to the people. Senators
Heath, Gushee, Kendall and Weymouth
were the -four. Il have voted for it for
three years." said Senator Heath, land /
probably shall again il get a chance. 1t is
bound to come some time"
Portland and Rochester.
The Portland and Rochester bill, besides
the amendments made at the suggestion Of
the city government, was amended again in
the House this forenoon, before it was pass
ed to be engrossed. The amendment wa:
the following, to be added to the end OF the
bill. Mayor Chapman, who is here, has seer
and approves the amendment.
Provided that said location If made shall bt
| subject to the joint use by other railroad compa
nieS in such a maner and upon such terms as ma,
be determined by the Mayor and Aldermen o
Portland, subject to revision by the Supreme Ju
dicial Court as provided in Sec. 20, chap. 51, o
the X. S.
Business in the House.
There was presented in the House a bill
relating to railroad crossings, formulated
from suggestions by the railroad commIs
sioners. Passed-Acts Incorporating th'
Round Lake Company Bucksport Waite
Company, Winter Harbor Water Company
Prout's Neck and Scarboro Railroad Com
pany, Preachers Aid Society, Methods
Episcopal Church, Waterville Water Com
pany, Buekfeld Village, authorizing tn
Governor and Council to contract for waite
in the State prison. No new business In tn
Senate.
The Insolvency Law.
The judiciary committee will propose al
amendment to the insolvency law TO provid